disabled

November 24, 2017 (El Cajon) - For the past decade, a Grossmont College Occupational Therapy Assistant class has proven that necessity is indeed the mother of invention.

To help answer the perpetual question of what an occupational therapy assistant does, students each year put on a fair to demonstrate simple, low-cost devices they’ve created to make everyday tasks easier for family members and others with physical impairments.

March 20, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) --Raul was blind for four years due to diabetes. He lives alone and couldn’t leave his house, walk to the store or do daily tasks. Last winter he was very cold because he couldn’t see well enough to make a warm fire.

With the help of Mountain Health’s Senior Transportation Program, Raul has been able to get to and from his doctor’s appointments including surgery for his eyes, and pick up his eye drops and diabetes medications. Today, Raul can see 70% better in his right eye after having multiple surgeries. He recently underwent surgery on his left eye that resulted in seeing shadows and light.

Raul said, “Your program is God sent. Without it, none of this would have happened. It’s just a miracle!” He has a better outlook on life and states with a huge smile on his face, “My future is looking brighter now that I can see my grandkids.”

March 14, 2013 (San Diego)--The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency has launched a new program to help seniors, disabled individuals and homeless gain more opportunities to buy hot, prepared meals with their CalFresh benefits.

The Restaurant Meals Program allows certain CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps) recipients who have difficulty preparing meals for themselves or do not have a place to store and cook food, to use their benefits at participating restaurants.

January 30, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)--ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

“I want you to fight. Fight for me, fight for the millions of unheard voices.” – Raul Carranza

May 19, 2012 (San Diego)—When Medi-Cal cut Raul Carranza’s round-the-clock nursing care, the paralyzed student feared for his future. “Please join us so we can stop these cuts and save not only my life, but thousands of others,” Carranza said at the time, organizing rallies in an effort to restore in-home healthcare services.

March 2, 2012 -- (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

Mayor: City’s structural deficit over (10 News)

San Diego has most expensive gas in nation (UT San Diego)

Low rainfall may mean more local conservation (10 News)

Get to know new District 9 candidates: Speak City Heights (Voice of San Diego)

November 17, 2011 (La Mesa) -- In October, Catherine Hill of the League of California Cities presented the City of La Mesa with a 2011 Helen Putnam Award for the highly successful Rides4Neighbors transportation program. Helen Putnam was active with the League of California Cities. Throughout her life as a mother, teacher, principal, mayor, and county supervisor, she viewed meeting one’s potential as the greatest measure of success.

To the League and to all the cities in California she defined excellence and the highly competitive award named in her honor recognizes excellence in local government projects each year.

October 23, 2011 (El Cajon) -- The always rousing wheelchair basketball game, where tumbles and spills are as much a part of the action as the pivoting and spinning of custom-built wheelchairs across the gym floor, is set for noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Cuyamaca College gym as part of the college’s annual commemoration of National Disability Awareness Month.

October 13, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments yesterday in Pasadena in a lawsuit that has sweeping implications for the state budget and thousands of low-income, disabled Californians and their families.

May 1, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)--The concept of having a “social life” doesn’t exactly mean the same thing it did twenty, ten, or even five years ago. Interfacing with family and friends seldom actually involves meeting face-to-face, and meeting someone new is only one click away. Chat room chat-ups and instant messaging marathons have, whether or not many of us would like to admit it, become integral elements to our link to the world around us.